4.27.00
Gore Keeps Getting Clintoned

4.25.00
Can I Get A Witness?

4.24.00
Freeze Frame

4.19.00
Getting Away With It

4.17.00
Everyday I Write the Book...

4.14.00
Living Through Another Cuba

4.12.00
Killing In The Name Of...

4.10.00
Broadway Blues

4.07.00
Conservatism Go Boom?

4.05.00
Begala's Baby-Boomer Blues

4.03.00
Hagel-ian Logic: Bush's Ideal V.P.

3.31.00
Back Stabbin' Games People Play

3.29.00
The Ink Is Black, The Page Is White

3.27.00
Pleased to Meet You

3.23.00
Diallo II?

f all people involved in the Elian hurricane, Al Gore — who was least culpable — has apparently taken the largest hit. No one seriously believes that he can win Florida now (he at least had an outside shot before). Is it possible that the ghost of Bill Bradley has suddenly shown up like Banquo's ghost at Macbeth's dinner?

By the end of the primary season, Bradley was down to being a Johnny-One Note candidate. He attempted to convince his fellow Democrats that Gore was not a "real" liberal — that he had *gasp* once harbored pro-life sentiments. With the NARAL providing Gore with cover, there was little chance of that particular charge sticking. But the underlying assumption — that Gore couldn't really be counted on when it comes to issues of basic principle — may have stuck.

Ironically, on the Elian issue, Gore has found himself in a trap very similar to what often plays out in the politics of abortion. The rule for abortion is — whether pro-life or pro-choice — state your position and stick to it. There is a little room for deviation, whether allowing for exceptions for rape or incest or supporting a ban on partial-birth abortion. The one thing verboten is to flip-flop. Bradley tried to make Gore look like a switcher on abortion, but too much time had passed in Gore's "choice" existence. Such was not the case with Elian.

Trying to jump into the middle of it by "splitting" with Clinton made Gore look like a "useless idiot." Bradley's earlier challenge to Gore to have Clinton sign an executive order ending racial profiling also comes floating back. If Gore has such influence with the president, why couldn't he walk down to the Oval Office and insist that Elian be allowed to have his day in court?

Like the politician who flip-flops on abortion, he has not gained votes on the one side and just gotten loads of scorn all around. Worse, he's lost one of his most attractive vice-presidential picks (Florida's Bob Graham).

Bush took a moderately "pro-stay here" position with Elian (perhaps taking the lead from his Florida governor brother), noting his discomfort with the armed raid. He hasn't joined the congressional pro-hearings crowd, preferring to stay above the fray. On an issue that is not appearing to be political winner for Republicans, Bush's discretion might be the better part of valor.

The Cover-Up Is The Crime
Since Watergate, the rule of thumb in the world of scandal is that it's not the crime (or substantial event) that does you in, but the cover-up. It's been seen over and over again, with Clinton's impeachment on obstruction-of-justice charges being the most outrageous example.

What's so funny about the current drama is that a case could be made that Clinton and Reno could be engaging in a cover-up without an underlying "crime." Now, some will undoubtedly disagree, but returning Elian to his father in Cuba is not a crime, per se. It is debatable and certainly morally troublesome, but even conservatives agree that Janet Reno, at one point, had a certain amount of discretion in deciding with whom Elian should remain — until the 11th Circuit stepped in.

At that point, the administration moved into its typical mode: It misrepresented itself in its request for a search warrant; tried to block out (and in the case of one NBC cameraman, trampled) the media; gave lawyer Greg Craig de facto veto power during the negotiations; and lied to foes and friends alike. Aaron Podhurst, a decades-long friend of Reno, was stunned as the raid began -- while he was still in the middle of negotiating with the relatives. Bob Graham claims Clinton promised him there would be no night raid. It's the usual stuff. It looks like Christopher Hitchens will have a couple new chapters for the paperback edition of his No One Left To Lie To.

Clinton Uber Allies
Of course, this is where we end up. It all comes back to Clinton. How could we be anywhere else? Bill Clinton is currently torn between deciding what he needs more: Does he go for the legacy, i.e. Al Gore elected as president (and, to a lesser extent, Hillary elected to the Senate)? But what about the ever-present thrill of the current headline? Clinton can't have both. Gore needs to find his own space — separate himself from Clinton and appear as his own man. Clinton's legacy depends on Gore gaining independence.

But Clinton won't allow it. Clinton appears on our television sets Saturday morning. Clinton's attorney general is called up to Capitol Hill. Today, we are all still talking about Clinton. Clinton. Clinton. Clinton. Conservatives obsess over any politician or tactic that even appears "Clintonian." The more they worry about him, the less time is being spent on issues and governing strategies. No wonder Republican governors are popular — they don't have to account for Clinton every day of their working lives. Of course, Clinton loves this. The Show-Business President applies the Hollywood ethic: "It doesn't matter what they say about you, just as long as they're talking about you."

Yes, the Republicans fall into their basic (unpopular) roles, but Slick Willie can't stay away from the spotlight. He needs it like a junkie needs his next fix. Like any dysfunctional character, he will sacrifice everything that hit, that inescapable rush — even family and friends. It's a tough choice facing Clinton — does he momentarily step back from the stage to try and develop a meaningful "relationship" with his potential legacy — or will the possibility of the next "quickie" media-hogging fling be too much to resist?

We all know the answer. Al Gore probably does too.

Columns / Current Issue / Goldberg File / Nota Bene
Washington Bulletin / Subscribe / Ad Info / Home